Combination lock switch



June 8 1926. 1,587,795 P. J. OMALLEY COMBINATION LOCK SWITCH Filed April 18, 1925 I N VEN TOR.

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U'NlTED STATES PATRICK J. OMALLEY, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COMBINATION L903 SNITCH.

Application filed April 18, 1925. Serial No. 24,148.

My invention relates to imprm' 'ements in combination lock switches, and more particularly to lock switches used for controlling electric circuits.

it is an object of the invent-ion to provide a simplified form of combination lock switch wherein the use of a barrel, tumblers, and the like is eliminated, so as to supply a cheap dependable device which may be utilized on automobile ignition systems to check the growing practice. of stealing parked cars.

The lock switch consists primarily of a rotatable annular plate and a disc adapted to rotate within the plate, both provided with rim contacts, and other contacts on the surface of an insulating member against which the reverse side of the plate and disc rotate, so that when both the latter have been at predetermined positions an electric circuit is completed.

The invention is more fully described hereinafter with the aid of the accompanying drawings, and con ists essentially of a novel combination of parts.

Figure 1 illustrates my invention mounted on an instrun'zent board, and.

Figure 2 is a cross section thereof.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the rotary disc.

Figure 1 shows the reverse side of the annular plate, and 1 Figure 5 is a front view of the bearing surface against which the rotary disc and annular plate bear.

Referring more particularly to the draw inns, 1 designates a casing having an outer flange 2 which is secured to the instrument board 3 as by screws 1. The inner flange 5 of the casing serves as a bearing; surface for a portion of the annular plate 6, and holds the latter in position against the insulating u'icmher The inner circumference 7 of the annular plate 6 is tapered and has its smallest diameter at the front. The circumference 8 of the disc 9 is tapered to correspond with. the circumference 7, and the disc is prevented from moving rearwardly by the insulating member 15. 16 indicates spacingring, and the cover 17 is held in position by screws 18 which are in threaded engagement with the member 15. The disc 9 is prm'ided with a knob 10, and the annular plate 6 has one or" more fingerholds 11.

On the back of the disc 9, which is made of suitable insulating material, is an annular contact 12, the outer circumference of which is flush with the outer circumference of the disc, and integral with the annular contact is an inwardly projecting portion 13.

On the back of the annular plate 6 and having one edge flush with its inner circumference is a contact 1 1. The two contacts 12 and 1 1 are therefore connected to one another at all positions of the disc 9 and annular plate 6 and are preferably made of anickel alloy or other hard conducting material to lessen the possibility of their contractin edges burning away.

The insulating member 15 is provided with two contact strips 19 and 20 held in position by screws 21 and respectively. A. wire 23 is secured between the washer 2d and the nut 25 on the screw 21, and a second wire 26 is held between the washer 2-7 and nut 28 on the screw 22. The contact strip 19 is so located that when the disc 9 is turned to a predetermined position it connects with the projection 13 on the annular ring 12, and similarly when the annular plate 6 is rotated to a certain position the contact let is connected with the contact strip 20.

In order to facilitate their manipulation T calibrate, and provide a series of numbers on, the front of both the annular plate and the disc. And on the inner flange 5 of the casing I also provide one or more indicatmarks as shown at 29.

From the above description it will be clearly seen that in order to close the circuit it is necessary for a given number on the annular plate to reg'ster with the indicating mark 29, or with one of them in. the event of more than one indicating mark being provided, and also for a given number on the disc to register with the given number on the annular plate. Moreover, when desired, the numbers and calibrations, both on the annular plate and on the disc, may be on separate elements which are attached to the front of the disc and plate instead of on the surface of those parts themselves. Separate elements are shown at 30 and 31 and are attached by screws 32 and 33 respectively, so that by the ren'iova-l of the screws the elements may be turned round and the combination changed. mustbe taken that the screw holes are evenly spaced so that the holes in the elements will register with the holes in the plate or disc er th elements have been turned.

When this is done care Obviously the greater the number of screws employed the greater will be the possible number of different settings for the elements. And whereas I at present use twenty eight calibrations on the disc and forty on the plate, I may of course vary these numbers should I so wish.

Again instead of using the separate elements 30 and 31 for changing the combination, this may be ettected by turning the in sulating member round in the casing.

l? or certain makes of automobiles where the engine i started on the battery and then switched over on to the magneto, I supply a modified form of my invention wherein three contact inen'ibers, each supplied with a termii'ial screw, are provided on the insulating: member. The third contact is indicated at 35 in Figured, In this case of course a ditlerent coi'nbination must be used for the battery and magneto connections.

In the foregoing the preferred embodimentof the invention has been described and shown, it will however be understood that I may make such changes in the construction as fall within the scope of the appended claims; and it is moreover apparent that the invention is applicable to other uses than the one herein referred to Vr'hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

i. In a circuit controlling lock, the combination of a revolvable annular plate haw inc" a contact on its rear surface one edge of which is flush with its inside diameter, a rotary disc within said annular plate and.

in contact with the inner circumference of the latter, a contact on the rear sur ace oi" plate and the other of which is adapted to make a connection with the contact on said rotary disc, means for holding said plate and said disc against said insulating meniber seoarate means for rotating said plate and said disc by hand, calibrations on the.

front surt'ace of said disc, and other calibr; tions on the front surface of said plate.

In a circuit controlling, lock, the combination as described in claim 1, wherein the contact on the disc is titled with an inward projection.

-3; In a circuit controlling lock, the combination as described in claim 1, wherein the circumference of the disc and the inner circumterence ot the annular plate are tapered so that the smallest diameter of the disc and the largest diameter of the plate are at the front.

In a circuit controlling lock, the combination described in claim 1, wherein the contact on said disc is connected to the contact on said annular plate at all positions of said disc and plate.

In a circuit controlling lock, the combination as described in claim 1, wherein the calibrations on said disc and on said plate are on. two separate elements either of which may be remov d and replaced at ditierent angles round said disc and plate respco tirelv.

PATRICK J. (Yb [ALLEY annular and pro- 

